Dev seed points to upcoming MacBook Pro updates

A file in the newest build of Mac OS X 10.6.2 alludes to a couple of new …

If you're looking for evidence of new or updated hardware, developer seeds aren't always the worst place to look. Applesfera (translated link), a Spanish language Apple site, has pointed out two .plist files inside of the most recent developer seed of Mac OS X 10.6.2 that reference two MacBook Pro models, 6_1 and 6_2, that have yet to be released. The current pro models of Apple's portable line are 5_2, 5_3, 5_4, and 5_5, all of which were released in June of this year.

The current speculation is that the upgraded models will include a quad-core mobile Intel Core i5 processor or an i7 (a version of the i5 processor can be found in the new iMac that was launched last week). While the i5 seems reasonable, it might take some time and a smaller i7 before it makes its way into Apple's portable line. Remember when two processors seemed like too many for a portable?

It's difficult to predict when an updated MacBook Pro line may launch, but what we do know is that 10.6.2 will probably make its debut very soon. We learned last week that Apple's new Magic Mouse relies on the yet-to-be-released operating system for at least some of its features, and that product currently shows a five- to seven-day lead time.